About Domaine Francois Raveneau

Named for its original proprietor, who, sadly, left us in 2000, Domaine Francois Raveneau is a goliath in Chablis. However, it wasn't until 1979 that the first Chardonnays were imported to the United States. Francois Raveneau was, at the time, very wary of the effect that international shipping might have on the wine. Luckily for us, he was convinced otherwise, and today his wines are heralded around the globe. His two sons, Bernard & Jean-Marc, now continue the family tradition, maintaining a commitment to natural wine. They harvest from 8 hectares of prime Chablis real estate: three Grand Cru vineyards, including Les Clos, and six Premier Cru vineyards. These wines, raised in neutral oak, are deep, chewy, and multifaceted. Their taut minerality requires -- and repays -- extended bottle aging. There's only one problem. The estate's strong cult following means that prices are high and bottles scarce in the retail market.